Nursery and Propagation Courses

Study Production Nursery Operations and Management by Distance Learning

Are you working or hoping to work as a supervisor, manager or owner operator of a wholesale or production nursery?

All aspects of wholesale nursery management and propagation are covered in the stream units. The first half of the course concentrates on Business operations and management, marketing, office practices.

This course develops an understanding of plant propagation (seed and cuttings), nursery hygiene, plant health, potting mixes and soils, production efficiencies, marketing, management, and more. This is a 900 hour covering both management and horticultural studies relating to running a wholesale nursery.There are 7 units plus a workplace project in this course. These include the 4 core units common to all streams of the Advanced Certificate (C12CN001) and three specialist units of study relating to the operation and management of wholesale nurseries.

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.

Use the link below ('read more') to view more comprehensive details of this course.

A 900 hour course that develops both the skills required to manage a retail business and the knowledge of plant identification, care and handling of plants and other products sold through retail nurseries. The course trains managers or supervisors rather than workers. There are 7 units plus a 200 hr workplace project in this course. These are the 4 core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate (plus three specialist units of study relating to the management and operation of a retail nursery).

Accredited through the International Accreditation & Recognition Council - IARC

Use the link below ('read more') to view more comprehensive details of this course.

ACS student comments:I have learnt so much from this course. I have learnt how easy and how much material strikes and grows, if you follow the rules. I learnt to propagate bulb leaves and grow them on. There are so many more plants that can be propagated and its not hard to do. I hope more people take up the challenge. As I don't have the internet, it's good to be able to use what may be an old fashioned way of learning. Please don't change, I don't think I'm the only one wanting to elarn without the internet. Pauline Ross - Australia, Cutting Propagation course.

Gain a qualification equivalent to a trade certificate and knowledge of general horticulture including plant identification, plant care, soils and nutrition, pests and diseases in plants, irrigation and so on. Basic propagation techniques as well as more specialised forms - seeds, seed germination techniques, various cutting propagation techniques, layering, division, budding and grafting are all covered in the stream units. Understand various propagation mixes used, know how to manage a greenhouse and how to care for and harden off plants ready for sale. An all round qualification to give you the edge in the industry.

“This course equates to a Trade Certificate, and will impart the knowledge necessary to become a specialist in the area of propagation. - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor.

Accredited through the International Accreditation & recognition Council
A 600 hour course designed principally for plant propagators. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to plant propagation, dealing with hundreds of different types of plants, and methods used to propagate them.

Use the link below ('read more') to view more comprehensive details of this course.

This course lays the foundation for a career as a professional propagator; or to start your own production nursery.

This is a particularly valued skill in today's nursery industry, and while no course alone is going to make you into an exceptional propagator, this training provides a necessary foundation needed to build these skills. Duration: 100 hours

ACS Student Comment:[The course} is teaching me a lot
about propagation that I did not know. Your courses are very good, easy
to understand, full of lots of valuable information. My tutor is very
good, fair and always there if needed. Pauline Ross, Australia - Cutting Propagation course.

Learn all aspects of nursery management from industry experts; the Advanced Diploma in Horticulture (Nursery) was developed by people that have years of experience in the nursery trade. They understand what is required of a nursery manager and what employers are looking for.

Do you work in a nursery or want to develop a career in one in a managerial position? Then this well rounded and comprehensive course would suit your needs and ambitions

“The nursery trade is crying out for well educated managers able to apply their knowledge and skills without constant supervision. This course covers all aspects of nursery management; it is structured to develop students with sound management skills.”Adriana Fraser - Cert. Horticulture, Adv. Dip. Horticulture, Adv. Cert. App. Mgt., Cert IV Assessment and Training - ACS Tutor.

This course has been specifically designed to provide excellent and applied training for people wishing to work in nurseries at a technician or management level; in positions such as nursery managers, technical representatives or consultants.

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C

Use the link below ('read more') to view more comprehensive details on this course.

Learn to run your own garden centre, or be manager of your favourite one!

This course has been very successful in training both staff and managers of retail nurseries and garden centres. Originally designed in 1986, in conjunction with the State Garden Department Manager of a major retail chain store; revised many times since then to keep up with current standards. It is useful for establishing standards in your garden centre and giving direction for the staff and managers.

“Here we have an incredibly informative course for anyone seeking to improve their ability to run or manage a garden centre. All aspects of indoor and outdoor plant care are discussed as well as stock selection and optimal plant display techniques. Graduates will also enhance their knowledge of typical garden centre products, marketing strategies, and how to get the most out of their staff.”- Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS Tutor.

“If you are looking to work in a wholesale nursery, or are planning to set up your own, this course provides a good foundation of applicable skills. After this course you will feel confident taking on work in this interesting industry.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor.

An introductory course which shows the beginner how to get started in the nursery business.You learn how to propagate plants, decide what to propagate, how to start a small inexpensive operation, and to go about selling what you grow. Part of every lesson is devoted to the important area of building up your knowledge of plants.Through six lessons you will learn how many established nurseries have started out slowlyas a small part time operation, and how youcan follow the same path. (If you intend studying propagation and wholesale nursery management, do not do this course!).

Do you want to work outdoors! “Those who seek to enter the nursery industry or who are currently employed in a nursery will find this course invaluable. From plant identification to propagation, nursery structures to irrigation, this course has it all. Graduates will be accomplished in all aspects of nursery work from the ground up to marketing.”- Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS Tutor.

Learn the skills for day to daywork in a production nursery. There are eleven lessons involving: The Nursery Industry - operational flowcharts, nursery standards, plant variety rights,transport regulations;plant identification, nursery structures, buildings, heating & cooling systems;potting mixes, seed propagation, cutting propagation,other propagation techniques, plant nutrition, pest & disease control, other nursery tasks and marketing and sales. This is a course designed in collaboration with nursery hands at the Greening Australia Hamel Nursery,south of Perth; and has been revised many times since.

“Whether dealing directly with members of the public or with other professionals such as landscape gardeners, it is imperative that nursery sales staff have sufficient plant knowledge to communicate effectively. That’s where this course comes in. A must do course for those wishing to improve their sales skills whilst simultaneously improving their awareness of plant identification, use, and care.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS Tutor.

Become a valuable nursery staff member!
Learn about plant identification, plant care and how to really sell plants to customers! This wide-ranging course will teach you all the sales secrets you need to know, plus give you the knowledge to advise customers on plants. This course was developed in response to a request from a retail nurseryperson who was finding it difficult to find staff with appropriate skills. As he put it, job applicants were either over qualified or lacked the basic skills needed: to be able to identify plants, advise customers on their use and to understand some basic sales techniques and procedures.

Learn to Breed Plants -Online course or Correspondence Course
Plant breeding is a bigger industry than most people realize. In some places, earnings from plant breeding rights can equal or exceed earnings from actually producing plants. Today's nurseryman needs to understand plant breeding and selection; and to this end, this course is a very valuable and unique course for anyone working in the modern industry.

STUDENT COMMENT"I am very pleased and impressed with the way that ACS recently handled my submission. This included acknowledgement of receipt of my answers, finding a specialist to answer a specific subject enquiry, .... All three (tutors) were both professional and helpful, contributing to my enjoyment and acquisition of interesting, useful knowledge from the Plant Breeding course". (Student -Malcolm Quigley, U.K.)

Why not develop your broad skills in plant propagation!Plants are propagated both sexually (from two parents eg. seed & spore) and asexually (from two parents eg. cuttings, grafting, layers, division). This course deals with the principles of propagation, and all of these methods; as well as materials and equipment.

Some seeds germinate easily, and others don't. Discover how should seed be stored and how seeds should be treated to encourage germinateion. How do you get seedlings to survive? Seed propagation can be complex, but doing this course will lay a foundation for working more effectively with all types of seed, to achieve better results wherever you live. You can grow just about anything when you know how to propagate your own plants. It is a valuable part of saving money for your landscape and nursery business. A skill you will have for always.

Tissue culture involves growing plants from very small sections (sometimes microscopic) in a laboratory. It is a propagation method which is being increasingly used. Tissue culture is not appropriate for many plants, but for specialist plants such as orchids, some indoor plants and many new plant varieties, it is a very popular propagation method.

This course gives students a useful overview of the growth of plants, nutrient media, propagation methods, laboratory organisation and other elements involved in the tissue culture process.

“This fascinating course works as a compendium of all you need to know about establishing a nursery and running it to its maximum profitability. Everything from site selection, plant specialisation, irrigation and feeding techniques, to marketing strategies, cost analyses, and employee productivity is covered. Nursery managers and owners alike will benefit tremendously from completing this course.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS Tutor.

Learn to Be a Successful Nursery Manager

Managing a production nursery involves more than just propagating and potting up plants. Even the small nursery must be able to not only producer plants, but do it at a pre determined cost, then sustain those plants before and during marketing.. The nursery industry currently has a real need for people with skills and knowledge in managing production plant nurseries! This course provides a solid grounding for developing those skills.

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